EBU and UEG team up for another 4 years
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) have reached a 4 year agreement for exclusive worldwide media rights on all platforms (radio, television and digital) as well as a services partnership. This deal takes the organisations’ 30-year relationship to a new level, co-operating on the presentation of European Gymnastics to the future audiences in a multi-platform approach.
It prolongs the current UEG/EBU agreement, for the period 2017-2020 covering 10 championships and including all Men's and Women's European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. The UEG 2018 European Artistic Championships will also be integrated in the European Sports Championships, joining the prestigious line up of leading sports who will stage their European Championships together in 2018 for the first time in their history, through an exclusive agreement with the EBU.
EUROVISION, the EBU’s operational arm, will be the UEG's exclusive service provider for worldwide distribution as well as the main sponsor for all the UEG European Championships.
This agreement also includes the live broadband streaming of all European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. This initiative is part of the cooperation with the UEG to further develop its digital strategy and increase the visibility of Gymnastics, the third most viewed Olympic sport.
Furthermore, in order to increase the value of European Gymnastics as a broadcast and digital enlarged product, the agreement contemplates developments and future changes in the competition format to adapt to the viewers requirements.
EBU Director Sports & Business Stefan Kürten said: "The extension of our relationship with the UEG is great news for our viewers. This global partnership enables the EBU, its gymnastics Members and Rights Holders around the world to bring European gymnastics to an enlarged audience and to serve the best interests of the sport and of our partner, the UEG."
EBU Head of Sports Rights - Indoor Sports, Ingolfur Hannesson, added: "This partnership renewal is based on a global multi-services approach from content creation to worldwide distribution. Through the EBU viewers are guaranteed maximum free-to-air access and increased visibility of the sport. Through the development of our digital partnership, both the EBU and the UEG are enabling this powerful and at the same time graceful sport to reach new and younger audiences”.
UEG President George Guelzec: "We are delighted with the renewal of this contract. It highlights the trust and dialogue that have characterized our relationship for the three past decades. It fully meets with our will to build relationships between real partners, merging our skills to common goals and in the long term. Gymnastics, a true telegenic sport, will meet the challenges of a dynamic sports market and the audiovisual revolution in full."
About the UEG
The European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) is a nonprofit association, according to the Swiss law. It is the exclusive governing body for gymnastics in Europe. Established in 1982, the UEG is one of the four continental gymnastics unions of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
The UEG governs eight disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men's Artistic, Women's Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic, Acrobatic Gymnastics and TeamGym. The UEG counts 48 national member federations, more than a third of the FIG total affiliated.
The UEG has its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), the home city of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and boasts a 6-persons staff.
It prolongs the current UEG/EBU agreement, for the period 2017-2020 covering 10 championships and including all Men's and Women's European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. The UEG 2018 European Artistic Championships will also be integrated in the European Sports Championships, joining the prestigious line up of leading sports who will stage their European Championships together in 2018 for the first time in their history, through an exclusive agreement with the EBU.
EUROVISION, the EBU’s operational arm, will be the UEG's exclusive service provider for worldwide distribution as well as the main sponsor for all the UEG European Championships.
This agreement also includes the live broadband streaming of all European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. This initiative is part of the cooperation with the UEG to further develop its digital strategy and increase the visibility of Gymnastics, the third most viewed Olympic sport.
Furthermore, in order to increase the value of European Gymnastics as a broadcast and digital enlarged product, the agreement contemplates developments and future changes in the competition format to adapt to the viewers requirements.
EBU Director Sports & Business Stefan Kürten said: "The extension of our relationship with the UEG is great news for our viewers. This global partnership enables the EBU, its gymnastics Members and Rights Holders around the world to bring European gymnastics to an enlarged audience and to serve the best interests of the sport and of our partner, the UEG."
EBU Head of Sports Rights - Indoor Sports, Ingolfur Hannesson, added: "This partnership renewal is based on a global multi-services approach from content creation to worldwide distribution. Through the EBU viewers are guaranteed maximum free-to-air access and increased visibility of the sport. Through the development of our digital partnership, both the EBU and the UEG are enabling this powerful and at the same time graceful sport to reach new and younger audiences”.
UEG President George Guelzec: "We are delighted with the renewal of this contract. It highlights the trust and dialogue that have characterized our relationship for the three past decades. It fully meets with our will to build relationships between real partners, merging our skills to common goals and in the long term. Gymnastics, a true telegenic sport, will meet the challenges of a dynamic sports market and the audiovisual revolution in full."
About the UEG
The European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) is a nonprofit association, according to the Swiss law. It is the exclusive governing body for gymnastics in Europe. Established in 1982, the UEG is one of the four continental gymnastics unions of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
The UEG governs eight disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men's Artistic, Women's Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic, Acrobatic Gymnastics and TeamGym. The UEG counts 48 national member federations, more than a third of the FIG total affiliated.
The UEG has its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), the home city of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and boasts a 6-persons staff.